Archive for month: February, 2015

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently passed new regulations governing the hours of service that truck drivers and operators are allowed to log on U.S. roads. This move is designed to decrease the number of truck driver fatigue accidents in the trucking industry, something that has become an increasingly more serious issue in recent years. According to the FMCSA, at least one in every four truck drivers has fallen asleep behind the wheel in the last month alone.

New Driver Fatigue Regulations

The new regulations seek to limit a driver’s workweek to 70 hours in order to ensure that the driver has enough time to rest adequately for each trip made. Once 70 hours are reached, a driver must take at least 34 consecutive hours off before returning to the wheel. Drivers must also take a 30-minute break every eight hours of a shift, and they cannot drive for more than 11 hours in a day. Workdays are limited to a total of 14 hours, including breaks, and any driver or company found in violation of these new regulations will face serious penalties. Exceeding the driving limit could lead to an $11,000 fine per offense for the employer and another $2,750 for the drivers. Before these new regulations, the allowed drive time in a workweek was 82 hours.

The FMCSA predicts that the new hours of service regulations will save 19 lives, stop 1,400 crashes, and prevent more than 500 injuries every year. “Safety is our highest priority,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “These rules make common sense, data-driven changes to reduce truck driver fatigue and improve safety for every traveler on our highways and roads.”

Driver Fatigue Accidents‘

Despite these new regulations, truck driver fatigue accidents will still happen. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a driver fatigue accident, contact the Law Offices of Pat Maloney as soon as possible. We’ll help you get the money you deserve for your damages, injuries and medical bills.

While there may be some attorneys out there with a less than stellar moral code, not all lawyers are like this. With careful research, you can learn how to sift through the bad ones and find an attorney who’s trustworthy, reliable and experienced. If you want to avoid disreputable San Antonio law firms and lawyers in your search, follow these three tips:Three Ways To Avoid Disreputable San Antonio Law Firms:

1. Thoroughly check reviews and ratings first. You can gain a lot of insight into a firm by reading online reviews and ratings. These can tell you which firms have satisfied clients, which ones are trustworthy, and which ones have done little to help people. This can go a long way in helping you sort out the good and the bad options.

2. Don’t go by billboards or commercials. The quickest way to find disreputable San Antonio law firms is to look for flashy daytime commercials, and although they might look impressive, they’re usually a cover-up for inexperience. Great law firms don’t need to use big-budget advertising to get clients; they get by on word of mouth and recommendations.

3. Meet with each firm first. Always visit a firm before deciding to let them handle your case; you can learn a lot from a quick sit-down with an attorney. Note their attention to detail, their communication style, and how much they seem to care about your case. You can also get a glimpse into the inner workings of their firm, including how well organized it is, how neat and tidy it looks, and how efficient the team is. Remember that it’s much easier to spot a bad firm in person than over the phone.

If you are currently looking for San Antonio law firms to handle your case, come to the Law Offices of Pat Maloney. Trusted, experienced and reliable, you can count on us to see your case through to success. Call now to get started.

When you’ve been in a car accident, you can’t choose just any San Antonio car wreck attorney to represent you. If you want to ensure you’re not stuck footing the bill for an accident you didn’t cause, then you have to get an attorney who’s experienced, who knows his stuff, and who inspires confidence in you. Only then will you get the compensation you deserve.

How You Benefit from the Right San Antonio Car Wreck Attorney

When you choose the right San Antonio car wreck attorney, you benefit immensely. For one, you get to ease your burden. You’re no longer alone, and you no longer have to worry about how you’ll pay for your car repairs, your medical bills, and other costs associated with the wreck. Your lawyer will handle all that for you.

Additionally, you also:

Will stand a better chance of winning your case. With your lawyer’s knowledge, experience in the field, and local contacts, your case is much more likely to be successful.

Won’t have to handle pushy insurance representatives. Your lawyer will manage all communication with the other driver and their insurance company – so you don’t have to.

Can avoid being implicated in the wreck. Your lawyer will gather evidence and witness testimony to make sure you’re not blamed for the wreck. If you’re required to give a recorded statement to an insurance company, they’ll also help prepare you, so you don’t say anything that could damage your claim.

Won’t get undercut. When you’re offered a settlement from the insurance company, your lawyer will make sure it’s enough to cover the costs you’ve incurred because of the wreck. If it’s not, they’ll negotiate until you get the money you deserve.

As you can see, having a lawyer on your side after a wreck can be hugely helpful. If you were injured in an accident, contact a San Antonio car wreck attorney at the Law Offices of Pat Maloney. We’ll make sure you get the compensation you’re rightfully due.

If you are injured on an oil field, you may require immediate medical treatment. Oil field injuries are often extremely serious and range from broken bones and third-degree burns to smoke inhalation and head trauma. In most cases, you’ll need to be taken to the emergency room as soon as possible.

The Costs of Treating Oil Field Injuries

In the emergency room, medical professionals will perform any treatment required to minimize your injuries, make any bleeding stop, and ensure that your life (and quality of life) are preserved. If you are unconscious, sedated, or otherwise unable to make decisions regarding your treatment, you won’t be able to call your insurance provider to make sure these services are covered, which can lead to large medical bills. The cost of one night in a hospital can amount to thousands of dollars, and you’ll also have to pay for any medication you require, the services of the medical personnel who help you during your stay, your surgery, and any tools or implements used in your treatment and during your stay.

If you have suffered oil field injuries and now have medical bills that you cannot afford to pay, contact an attorney for assistance. They can help ensure that you don’t have to pay out of pocket, and if your oil field injuries were sustained on the job, they can work with your employer to ensure that you get the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve to cover your medical bills, treatment costs, and lost wages. If your employer doesn’t carry workers comp, an attorney can help you take legal action against them or the third party who caused your injuries so that you can get the funds you need and deserve.

Call an Attorney

If you are struggling to pay medical bills incurred from your oil field injuries, contact an attorney at the Law Offices of Pat Maloney today. We’ll help you get the compensation you’re rightfully due so that you can get the treatment you need without having to struggle financially.

ABOUT US

The Law Offices of Pat Maloney has established a tradition of excellence and dedication for our clients who have been victimized. As a leading San Antonio personal injury lawyer, we are known and respected throughout San Antonio, the state of Texas, and the nation as one of the preeminent law firms in America.